Articles: neuralgia.
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The review aims to present the latest research into microglia and their role in pain. ⋯ Glial cells, composed of microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, outnumber neurons in the central nervous system. The crosstalk between these cells and neurons is now established as participating in the development of chronic pain. There has been a great advance in the description of microglia reactivity from pro to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. The modulation of these phenotypes could be a potential target for pain therapy. Recently, different microglial reactivity between man and woman and between neonates and adults, in response to nerve injury were described, which could explain some of the sex differences in pain sensitivity and the absence of neuropathic pain development in neonates. Clinical trials using microglia as a target have been carried out in various neurological diseases and pain, with limited efficacy in the latter, but there are nonetheless, indications that with some improvement in study strategies microglia could be a future target for pain control.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Oct 2016
Multicenter StudyPain severity and mobility one year after spinal cord injury: a multicenter, cross-sectional study.
Following a spinal cord injury, patients are often burdened by chronic pain. Preliminary research points to activation of the motor cortex through increased mobility as a potential means of alleviating postinjury chronic pain. ⋯ Enhancing a patient's physical activity by increasing his or her mobility may reduce neuropathic pain if begun shortly after a spinal cord injury.
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Pain is a distressing sensation, resulting from real or potential tissue damage. It is crucial to protect our body, but it can be so intense that it requires treatment. Furthermore, in some circumstances, pain can become persistent/chronic, such as that triggered by inflammatory disease or neuropathy. ⋯ In this context, there is emerging evidence indicating that C5a, a component of the complement system, and its cell membrane receptor, C5aR, play a critical role in the genesis of acute and chronic pain states. Thus, this review will describe the mechanisms by which C5a/C5aR signaling participates in the cascade of events involved in the pathophysiology of acute (postoperative), inflammatory and neuropathic pain states. Furthermore, it will also highlight the current possibilities for the development of a novel class of analgesic drugs that target C5a/C5aR signaling.
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To determine the risk factors associated with clinical insomnia in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients. ⋯ Insomnia should be addressed as an important part of pain management in PHN patients with these risk factors, especially in patients with severe pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Motor Cortex Reorganization and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Pain-A Methodological Study.
Somatotopic reorganization of primary motor cortex (M1) has been described in several neurological conditions associated with chronic pain. We hypothesized that such reorganization impacts on the mechanisms of M1 stimulation induced analgesia and may either compromise the treatment effect of or provide an alternative target site for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The aim of the study was to compare pain relief following rTMS of the standard motor "hotspot" with that of the reorganized area. ⋯ Cortical reorganization may provide a more effective stimulation target for rTMS in some individuals with neuropathic pain.